Dental capsule for containing and dispensing low viscosity dental material and method of filling and applying said low viscosity material

Abstract

A dental capsule or syringe and method for packaging, storing and/or dispensing a low viscosity or liquid-like dental material in which the liquid dental material is saturated in a sponge or cellular foam-like filler confined within the body portion or chamber of the dental capsule and sealed therein by a displaceable piston; and whereby the liquid dental material is dispensed therefrom by imparting a compressive force onto the sponge or foam filler, causing the liquid dental material to be squeezed and dispensed therefrom in a controlled manner by the displacement of the piston sealing the open end of the capsule. The discharge orifice may be sealed either by a suitable detachable sealing cap or by an integrally molded seal which must be severed prior to use.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dental capsule for packaging, storing and dispensing a fluent low viscosity dental material comprising: a capsule having a body portion defining a chamber,   said body portion being open at one end, and   a discharge nozzle terminating in a discharge orifice connected to the other end of said body portion,   a filler of cellular sponge-like material disposed in said chamber,   filler being saturated with a low viscosity dental material,   and a displaceable piston sealing said open end to confine said saturated filler within said chamber.   
     
     
       2. A dental capsule as defined in claim 1 and including means for sealing said discharge orifice. 
     
     
       3. A dental capsule as defined in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a detachable sealing cap. 
     
     
       4. A dental capsule as defined in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a sealing cap integrally molded to said discharge nozzle forming a seal for said discharge orifice. 
     
     
       5. A dental capsule as defined in claim 4 wherein said integral sealing cap is connected to said discharge nozzle by a frangible portion. 
     
     
       6. A dental capsule as defined in claim 5 wherein said sealing cap includes means for resealing said discharge orifice. 
     
     
       7. A dental capsule as defined in claim 1 wherein said body portion is cylindrical in shape, said body portion being closed at the end opposite said open end,   and said discharge nozzle being angularly disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of said body portion, and   a laterally outwardly extending flange circumscribing said open end.   
     
     
       8. A dental capsule as defined in claim 1 wherein said dental material is rendered light sensitive, and said capsule being formed of a light opaque material.   
     
     
       9. A capsule for packaging, storing and dispensing a fluent low viscosity material comprising: a capsule having a body portion defining a chamber,   said body portion having an opening at one end thereof, and   a discharge nozzle connected adjacent the other end of said body portion,   a porous filler disposed within said chamber between said open end and said discharge nozzle,   said filler being saturated with a supply of fluent low viscosity material,   and a displaceable piston sealing said saturated porous filler within said chamber whereby said fluent, low viscosity material is dispensed by displacement of said piston to impart a compressive force on said filler to cause said fluent material to be squeezed out of said porous filler and dispensed through said discharge nozzle in a controlled manner depending upon the amount of compressive force imparted onto said filler.   
     
     
       10. A capsule as defined in claim 9 and including means for sealing said discharge nozzle. 
     
     
       11. A method of dispensing and applying a fluent dental material having a liquid-like consistency comprising the steps of: utilizing a capsule having a body portion defining a reservoir,   placing a filler formed of compressible porous material within said reservoir,   saturating said filler with a low viscosity dental material having a liquid-like consistency,   sealing said reservoir with a displaceable piston,   and imparting a force on said piston to effect a displacement thereof, whereby a compressive force is imparted onto said filler to cause the dental material to be squeezed out of said filler and discharged from said capsule.   
     
     
       12. A method of dispensing and applying a fluent low viscosity dental material having a liquid-like consistency to a tooth comprising the steps of: utilizing a sponge-like filler saturated with a fluent low viscosity dental material disposed in a dental capsule in a confined manner,   imparting a compressive force on said filler to squeeze the fluent, low viscosity dental material out from said filler, and   applying said low viscosity dental material being squeezed from said filler directly onto a tooth being worked upon.   
     
     
       13. A syringe for packaging, storing and dispensing a low viscosity, liquid-like dental material directly to the site of use comprising: an elongated barrel defining a chamber for containing a predetermined amount of fluent liquid-like dental material,   said barrel having a front end and a rear end,   a plunger reciprocally mounted in said barrel and extending beyond said rear end,   a piston connected to the end of said plunger reciprocally mounted within said barrel,   said barrel having an end wall adjacent said front end thereof,   said end wall having an outlet opening therein,   means for sealing said outlet opening when said syringe is inoperative,   and a detachable nozzle adapted to be connected in communication with said outlet opening in the operative position,   said detahcable nozzle including a tube portion,   a discharage nozzle connected to said tube portion,   and a porous filler disposed in said tube portion for controlling the flow of dental material therethrough when said plunger and connected piston is displaced to eject the dental material through said outlet opening and connected detachable nozzle.